London Showdown: Fulham’s Endeavour against Arsenal’s Resurgence
The upcoming EPL game featuring Fulham against Arsenal will be fascinating, as it’s a major chance for Arsenal to possibly take the top of the table. Fulham are far away from winning the league, but this London clash still holds a lot of weight for this feisty team.
Match Details
This English Premier League matchup is going to happen on Sunday, December 31st, with a kick-off expected at 14:00. The match is held at Craven Cottage, which is Fulham’s iconic home stadium since 1896.
Team News
Fulham will be missing some of their main players, but the list isn’t actually so large when compared to other teams. Willian Borges Da Silva, Adama Traore Diarra, Tim Ream, and Raul Jimenez will all be out, although Jimenez is suspended due to a previous red card. Diarra and Ream have a chance to play if they pass physical tests on match day, but don’t hold your breath.
For Arsenal’s team news, they will be without Fabio Ferreira Vieira, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Thomas Partey, and Jurrien Timber because of injury, as well as Kai Havertz due to suspension. No player is likely to make a return in this match against Fulham.
Recent Form
Arsenal is second on the league table with 40 points, not far behind Liverpool in first place with 42 points. However, Arsenal has the advantage of having one game in hand and could take the top spot if they win and Liverpool lose. Arsenal has had a bit of an up and down schedule lately, with three wins, one loss, and one draw in their last five matchups. Their most recent game was a 1-1 draw to none other than Liverpool.
Fulham is having a fairly disappointing season at 13th on the EPL table, and while they are in no danger of relegation, there’s also no shot at the title. The team has had two wins and three losses in their last five matches, and their last game was a poor 0-3 loss to Bournemouth.
Head-to-Head
It’s been a long time since Fulham has beaten Arsenal, as their last five matchups between these two teams have included three victories for Arsenal and two draws. A 2-2 draw on August 26th, 2023, was the latest result when Fulham last played Arsenal.
Key Players to Watch
Arsenal will be at mostly full strength for the team and has a collective effort when it comes to goal scoring. Saka and Nketiah both have 5 goals in 17 games, while Havertz (suspended) and Odegaard each have 4. Assists are similar, with Saka (5), Odegaard (4), and Vieira (3) all chipping in. Odegaard and Saka were the top scorers last season, with 15 goals and 14 goals, respectively.
Fulham has decent efforts from the likes of Jimenez and Willian with four goals each, and these are really the only two players who could at least trouble the Arsenal defence.
Tactical Overview
Arsenal has a reputation for controlling games. They exert considerable pressure on the opposition to hold possession and are formidable when they do. They have several talented players who can also execute precise passes, deft dribbles, and lethal finishes.
Predictions
As of now, Arsenal is the absolute choice to get the victory here with odds of 11/20, a draw at 7/2, and a Fulham victory at 17/4. The Anytime Goalscorer bet is a good choice with Bukayo Saka with odds of 43/20. Experts rate Arsenal’s chances to win at 61%, then Fulham at 17%, and a draw at 22%. The over/under for goals scored is marked at 2.5.
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